“In the pages of our annual report, we lift up these examples and others to highlight the need for the elimination of laws like these that, when enforced, severely restrict the exercise of religious freedom. We believe that shining light on these problems is the best way to address them, and our report does just that. But beyond reporting conditions on the ground, leaders at the highest levels of our government regularly speak out against and engage with government leaders regarding the broad panoply of religious freedom violations and abuses, including blasphemy and apostasy laws.”

This report is a key tool in learning about and being strong advocates for robust religious freedom for all people around the world. Though there are significant challenges to ensuring that all people can live freely according to their beliefs and conscience.

In the United States, our foundational documents, the Constitution in particular, ensure both church-state separation and religious freedom, two symbiotic principles. These protections have allowed the Jewish community to flourish here, where elsewhere we have been the quintessential victims of religious persecution. With Tisha b’Av only a few days behind us, we are especially reminded of our most painful, troubling times.

As we soon celebrate Tu b’Av, the Jewish holiday of love, and enter into the month of Elul, the month of reflection before the High Holidays, we devote ourselves to any measures designed to lessen the impact of religious persecution, and pray for and advocate for a world where no one knows the struggle, oppression and pain of religious persecution.

Sarah Greenberg is the Assistant Legislative Director at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, where she was an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant in 2013-2014. Sarah graduated in 2013 from Cornell University, and is originally from New York City.